Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, opened their 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup group stage campaign with a 99-81 loss to South Korea in Berlin. The defeat leaves the team with work to do if they are to advance to the knockout stages.
South Korea’s offensive firepower proved too much for Nigeria, as the Asian side scored 99 points, making it difficult for the D’Tigress to keep pace. The high-scoring affair exposed some defensive vulnerabilities that the Nigerian team will need to address in their remaining group games.
Despite the loss, the D’Tigress showed flashes of their potential. The experience of competing against a top-tier international side will be valuable as the tournament progresses. The team will need to regroup quickly and focus on their next group stage match.
The winners: South Korea, who have started the tournament with a win; and the D’Tigress, who have gained valuable experience. The losers: the D’Tigress, who have lost their opener; and Nigerian basketball fans, who were hoping for a stronger start.
Bottom Line: D’Tigress lost their World Cup opener. The road ahead is tough. The question is whether they can bounce back or if the loss will set the tone for the tournament.